Gangnam Style rapper Psy was mobbed
by screaming fans as he arrived in London today before heading to Oxford
Union to give a speech.
The 34-year-old South Korean, whose music video is the second most watched YouTube clip in history, is the first east Asian pop star to address the historic organisation.
The speech will be Psy's first public address in English, and he has picked the perfect venue - an organisation that Harold Macmillan once called 'the last bastion of free speech in the Western world'.
The union, which exists independently
from Oxford University and its students' union, has previously welcomed
welcomed high-profile figures from Jimmy Carter to Michael Jackson to
speak to its members.
Psy, whose full name is Park Jae-sang, travelled from Paris by Eurostar and said he was visiting the UK for three days.
He stopped briefly to pose for photographers and sign autographs at St Pancras station in a sleeveless leather jacket, cropped trousers and yellow-rimmed sunglasses.
He said it was 'really exciting' to be in the UK and 'a great feeling' to be greeted by so many people.
The rapper became a worldwide sensation when his humorous single Gangnam Style single shot to number one in the UK in September.
The video shows Psy making fun of the
extravagant lifestyle of the residents of Gangnam, a neighbourhood where
he grew up in the South Korean capital, Seoul.
'The president and Psy are both from Gangnam - the area where the eponymous hit song takes its name.'
Psy said: 'I'm going to Oxford today, it's really exciting, I'm looking forward to it.'
His signature dance involves him prancing like a horse and wildly gesturing while posing in a sauna, a stable and even on the toilet.
Parodies
have popped up from South Korea to the United States, with everyone
from prisoners to royal Zara Phillips recreating the video.
Even a few of South Korea's normally staid presidential candidates are imitating Psy's moves in an appeal to voters.
The song was meant as a commentary on the rampant materialism and emphasis on appearance of today's South Korea - particularly in relation to Gangnam, which Psy terms Seoul's Beverly Hills.
The musician explains: 'It is too hot, and the economy is so bad. So I just wanted the song - lyrics, dances and everything - to be full of gusto.'
The 34-year-old South Korean, whose music video is the second most watched YouTube clip in history, is the first east Asian pop star to address the historic organisation.
The speech will be Psy's first public address in English, and he has picked the perfect venue - an organisation that Harold Macmillan once called 'the last bastion of free speech in the Western world'.
Stylish: Psy looked overwhelmed as he arrived in London on the Eurostar to be greeted by hordes of fans
Quirky look: South Korean pop star Psy arrives
at Oxford University's Oxford Union, where he made an hour-long address
to students
First time: Psy, whose music video is the second
most watched YouTube clip in history, outside Oxford Union where he was
due to give a speech today - the first east Asian pop star to address
the historic organisation
'A great feeling': Psy was happy to be in the UK for three days as he was welcomed by fans as he arrived at Oxford Union
Cool moves: Oxford University students (from
left) Ines Allard, Maria Borsa and Leila Lutfi do the Gangnam dance to
celebrate Psy's arrival
Psy, whose full name is Park Jae-sang, travelled from Paris by Eurostar and said he was visiting the UK for three days.
He stopped briefly to pose for photographers and sign autographs at St Pancras station in a sleeveless leather jacket, cropped trousers and yellow-rimmed sunglasses.
He said it was 'really exciting' to be in the UK and 'a great feeling' to be greeted by so many people.
The rapper became a worldwide sensation when his humorous single Gangnam Style single shot to number one in the UK in September.
International hit: The rapper became a worldwide
sensation when his humorous single Gangnam Style single shot to number
one in the UK in September
Wildly popular: Fans and students queue up to get a glimpse of the modern legend in their debating hall
Heavyweights: Psy follows in the footsteps of
many world-famous stars who have spoken at the union, including pop star
Michael Jackson, left, and actor Clint Eastwood, right
'The president and Psy are both from Gangnam - the area where the eponymous hit song takes its name.'
Psy said: 'I'm going to Oxford today, it's really exciting, I'm looking forward to it.'
His signature dance involves him prancing like a horse and wildly gesturing while posing in a sauna, a stable and even on the toilet.
Unique: Psy's moves have become so popular, even presidential candidates are copying them
Toilet humour: Psy takes his music into the bathroom in the bizarre video for Gangnam Style
Dressing up: Psy tries on a range of brightly coloured tuxedos in the hit video
The bizarre music sensation was released in July and quickly eclipsed teen superstar Justin Bieber's latest single.
Nobody was more surprised by the success of the video Gangnam Style than Psy, a musician with a decade-long career in his homeland who never thought he would break overseas.
He said: 'The YouTube video never targeted foreign countries. It was for local fans.
'My goal in this music video was to look uncool until the end. I achieved it.'
The video's popularity owes much to Psy's zany outfits and outlandish dance moves.
Nobody was more surprised by the success of the video Gangnam Style than Psy, a musician with a decade-long career in his homeland who never thought he would break overseas.
He said: 'The YouTube video never targeted foreign countries. It was for local fans.
'My goal in this music video was to look uncool until the end. I achieved it.'
The video's popularity owes much to Psy's zany outfits and outlandish dance moves.
Going global: Tens of millions of people have watched the unique music video on YouTube
Bigger than Bieber: Pop poster boy Justin Bieber is struggling to keep up with this chubby rival
Even a few of South Korea's normally staid presidential candidates are imitating Psy's moves in an appeal to voters.
The song was meant as a commentary on the rampant materialism and emphasis on appearance of today's South Korea - particularly in relation to Gangnam, which Psy terms Seoul's Beverly Hills.
The musician explains: 'It is too hot, and the economy is so bad. So I just wanted the song - lyrics, dances and everything - to be full of gusto.'
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